The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has directed the Director General of Prisons, Haryana, to submit a factual report into the suspicious death of an undertrial prisoner at the District Jail, Neemka, in Faridabad. The directive came during a hearing on a complaint alleging that the deceased, Rankit alias Ritik, was subjected to continuous physical and mental harassment during his judicial custody.
Details of the Complaint
Commission member Deep Bhatia ordered the DG Prisons to provide the report through the Director General (Investigation) of the HHRC before the next hearing. The complainant, Nikhil, claimed that the 24-year-old inmate from Ghazipur village in Faridabad was suffering from depression but was not given timely specialised medical and psychological care. The complaint also alleged that prison authorities failed to implement adequate monitoring and safety measures in accordance with his mental health condition.
Discovery of the Body
Rankit alias Ritik was found dead inside the washroom of the jail hospital in the early hours of June 7, 2026. His family staged protests, alleging harassment by jail authorities and demanding a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Evidence Preservation Demanded
The complaint urged the Commission to ascertain which doctor or psychiatrist treated the inmate, the medicines administered, whether suicide prevention protocols and jail regulations were complied with, and the role of officers and staff on duty at the time of the incident. It also sought preservation of all crucial documentary and electronic evidence, including CCTV footage, control room and security tower recordings, entry and exit registers, duty rosters, daily logbooks, visitor registers, medical and psychiatric records, and the complaint register. Additionally, the complaint requested preservation of call detail records and location data of the mobile phones of the officials concerned.
Next Hearing Scheduled
The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 19, 2026. The HHRC has sought a comprehensive report from the prison authorities to determine the facts surrounding the inmate's death.
